The Short List: This Week's Recommended Shows

From Cold Cave to Dr. Dog.

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: The most interesting music happening in Seattle can be found Tuesday through Thursday at the Comet. If my theory that different crowds have specific liquor longings is correct, tonight's show would be the equivalent of what we referred to in high school as "Jungle Juice"—aka the best of what would go unmissed in your parents' liquor cabinet all mixed together. Digital Leather champions fuzzed-out indie rock; Sick Secrets are experts in aggro; Crypts brings its own special brand of spooky, electro-heaviness; and Dude York makes riotous, feel-good garage rock. Any of these bands alone will make you think our scene is happening and vibrant; the four together make a cocktail capable of inducing one heavy rock-'n'-roll hangover. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272. 9 p.m. $8. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Eleanor Friedberger/Thursday, February 9

Friedberger's video for "Heaven" starts with a shot of her drinking a glass of red wine on an ocean pier before an angel takes her aside and remonstratively shows her a slide show of her life's worst sins, which include making out with an Asian guy and swigging from a bottle of whiskey (a caption appears on the bottom of the screen: "CAROUSING"). By the end, Friedberger's sitting on a throne in hell, which tells us what she thinks about a life of sobriety. She's too fun for that—her Last Summer, one of 2011's most underrated records, is vibrantly alive. The wonderfully colorful lyrics mostly detail love's disappointments ("Watching Footloose with the biggest bottle of vodka in the world," she sings on "Inn of the Seventh Ray"), but they're balanced by the jaunty, piano-driven, '70s-style pop melodies. It's intimate carousing music—so do bring your pocket flask. With Dominant Legs, Blouse. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618. 8 p.m. $12. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Cold Cave/Friday, February 10

Turns out gothic synth-pop young gods Cold Cave actually have their own wine. It's a pinot noir from Sonoma christened "Burning Sage" after Cherish the Light Years' iron lung–pumping industrial dirge of the same name, and you can find a picture of the band's Wesley Eisold posing with a hand-labeled bottle of the stuff on his Twitter feed. (Headline: Noir Whine Gets Noir Wine.) It's apparently a pretty exclusive vintage, though, because beyond that Twitter post no record of the wine seems to exist—which makes it perfect for tonight's sure-to-be-insane edition of goth rave monthly Second Sight, since its advance tickets have been sold out for weeks (additional tickets may be available at the door). Barring wine, though, trv kvlt goths drink goblets of blood—or poison, maybe. With Resident Second Sight DJs. Electric Tea Garden, 1402 E. Pike St., 568-3972. 10 p.m. Sold out. ERIC GRANDY

Omar S/Friday, February 10

Re-bar—and this Drinking Issue's alcohol advertisers—would probably prefer I didn't say this, but let's be real: The ideal drink to go with Omar S's finely tuned Detroit techno is . . . water. Water for washing down a tab or two, and for staying hydrated once things kick in. You don't have to be rave historian Simon Reynolds to know that the high most symbiotically suited to electronic dance music isn't exactly a beer buzz. To be fair to all involved, though, Omar S's jacking yet soulful techno is both deeply musical and dance floor– functional enough to be enjoyed in any state, from the most highly altered to stone-cold sober. And frankly, I've never really followed the invocation against alcohol when raving, anyway; sometimes a pint of lager is just what you need to even out the buzz. Re-bar would be happy to sell you one. With Nordic Soul, Justin Timbreline. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., 233-9873. 10 p.m. $13 adv./$15 DOS. ERIC GRANDY

Less Than Equals/Saturday, February 11

Tripwires frontman John Ramberg and guitarist Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks, Young Fresh Fellows) formed this side project and tribute group, which Ramberg calls "a cover band of a relatively unknown British band called the Equals." The music is an infectious blend of power pop, ska, and '60s garage rock. They have virtually no online presence, so your only chance to experience the band will be live—and having seen the show, I can honestly report it's a beer-and-whiskey-soaked event. These two Seattle-scene veterans like to pull a cork as much as they like to play, and there's no better place to observe the spectacle than the Funhouse, where the drinks are as stiff as the decibels reverberating from it. With the Piniellas, Event Staph. Funhouse, 206 Fifth Ave. N., 374-8400. 9:30 p.m. $5. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Michael Vermillion/Saturday, February 11

Vermillion got his start with alternative rock band Vendetta Red, but after it disbanded in 2006, he released an alt-country album (Last Night on Earth) and has been DJing regularly as Sad Bastard. True to that tag, Vermillion spins some dreary tracks—country tunes by the likes of Merle Haggard and Hank Williams—and his woebegone sets have garnered a loyal following of folks who come together to drown their equally sorry tales in drink. At his live show, expect more of the same in an acoustic setting: lonesome ballads and alt-country twang, the kind of music that makes you want to hunker down at the bar and chase away your worries with a cold one. With Aaron Daniel, Mads Jacobsen. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212. 9:30 p.m. $7. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

*****EDITOR'S PICK

Dr. Dog/Tuesday, February 14

For music fans looking for a Valentine's night out, there isn't a better option than checking out Philadelphia's Dr. Dog. The band's a Great Equalizer—everybody loves its lively psych-pop songs, ensuring harmony with your date, and you'll get to hear material from the band's just-released swaggering seventh studio album, Be the Void. You'll also be able to celebrate in style: In honor of Valentine's Day, the Neptune's bar will have a limited supply of celebratory Champagne available by request—and only by the bottle, which should be the perfect amount to put you and your date in the mood for an entire night of dancing. May the sound of electric guitars, popping corks, and smooching lips ring through your evening. Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 781-5755. 8 p.m. $20 adv./$23 DOS. All ages. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Love Equally/Tuesday, February 14

Let's face it: It's Tuesday (barf) and it's Valentine's Day (double barf), so you're going to want to get college-drunk tonight (that goes double for you love song–covering hooligans who plan to get onstage). So here's what you do (I call it the "Valentine's Liquid Date"): Stop by your local gas station–mart, or comparable malt-liquor vendor, and select your 40-ounce libation of choice (I personally recommend Old English's "High Gravity"), as well as their finest wine cooler (Cisco is an effective option). Set up shop in the Bank of America parking lot across the street from Chop Suey. After drinking about a third of your 40, slowly refill the bottle with wine cooler to create a delightful mix of party fuel. Drink rapidly (trust me), pay the cover to support tonight's marriage-equality benefit, and have your friends tell you how it went! With Ian Moore, the Juliettes, Ghosts I've Met, Vibragun, Kim Muraki, Like Lightning, Jon Garcia, Dan Leary, The Horse You Rode In On, Kasey Anderson, Downpilot. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005. 8 p.m. $7. TODD HAMM